The National High Blood Pressure Education Program: measuring progress and assessing its impact.

The National High Blood Pressure Education Program has been designed to translate the results of basic and clinical research to medical practice through a program of education for the public, patients, and health professionals. It has continuously used health-education principals of media development, patient education, social networking, community organizations, theories of social change, and program evaluation and measurement to reach its objectives. After 15 years, public knowledge regarding blood pressure and its sequelae has improved dramatically.